PAX Physiology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which part of the neuron receives incoming signals from other neurons?
- Axon
- Myelin sheath
- Dendrites (Correct answer)
- Synaptic terminal
Correct answer: Dendrites
Dendrites are the branching extensions of a neuron that receive incoming signals and transmit them toward the cell body.
Question 2: Which hormone primarily lowers blood glucose by promoting its uptake into cells?
- Glucagon
- Cortisol
- Adrenaline
- Insulin (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Insulin
Insulin, produced by beta cells of the pancreas, lowers blood glucose by facilitating cellular uptake and promoting glucose storage as glycogen.
Question 3: What is the primary function of the stomach in digestion?
- Absorption of nutrients into the blood
- Mechanical and chemical digestion of food (Correct answer)
- Bile production for fat emulsification
- Water absorption from digested material
Correct answer: Mechanical and chemical digestion of food
The stomach mechanically churns food and chemically digests it using hydrochloric acid and pepsin, breaking down proteins and creating chyme.
Question 4: The 'fight or flight' stress response is controlled by which division of the nervous system?
- Central nervous system
- Parasympathetic nervous system
- Somatic nervous system
- Sympathetic nervous system (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Sympathetic nervous system
The sympathetic nervous system activates the fight-or-flight response, increasing heart rate, dilating airways, and redirecting blood to muscles.
Question 5: Where does the majority of nutrient absorption occur in the digestive system?
- Stomach
- Large intestine
- Small intestine (Correct answer)
- Esophagus
Correct answer: Small intestine
The small intestine, through villi and microvilli, is the primary site for absorbing proteins, fats, and carbohydrates into the bloodstream.
Question 6: Which endocrine gland is called the 'master gland' because it regulates other endocrine glands?
- Adrenal gland
- Thyroid gland
- Pineal gland
- Pituitary gland (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Pituitary gland
The pituitary gland secretes hormones that regulate and control the activity of many other endocrine glands throughout the body.
Question 7: What is the primary function of bile in the digestive process?
- Breaking down proteins into amino acids
- Emulsifying fats to increase surface area for digestion (Correct answer)
- Converting starch into simple sugars
- Neutralizing hydrochloric acid from the stomach
Correct answer: Emulsifying fats to increase surface area for digestion
Bile emulsifies fats by breaking large fat droplets into smaller ones, greatly increasing the surface area available for lipase enzymes to act upon.
PAX Physiology 2
Which part of the neuron receives incoming signals from other neurons?